Methods of completing a well

ABSTRACT

A method of completing a well by installing in the well a flow conductor, performing various operations such as cementing the flow conductor in the well bore, drilling out excess cement from the flow conductor, perforating the casing at desired locations, and the like, installing a liner in the flow conductor of smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the flow conductor to provide an internal seal surface and oppositely facing stop shoulders in the flow conductor, setting a packer in the liner, and then installing an inner production flow conductor in the well and securing it to the packer. A setting tool for simultaneously locating a liner and a packer in a flow conductor, expanding the liner into sealing and anchored engagement in the flow conductor and then setting the packer in the liner.

United States Patent [151 3,669,190 Sizer et a1. 14 1 June 13, 1972 [54]METHODS OF COMPLETING A WELL 3,203,483 8/1965 Vincent ..l66/207 [72]Inventors: Phillip S. Sizer, Dallas; Harry E. Schweg- 3,455,382 7/1969Chenoweth ..l66/l 1s [73] Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation,Dallas, Tex.

Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink [22] Flled: 1970 Attorney-J5. HastingsAckley [21] App1.No.. 99,889 A STRAC Rem! Applicmon A method ofcompleting a well by installing in the well a flow [60]Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 803,507, Dec. 24, conductor. Performingvarious operationswsh as cementing 9 3. abandoned, which is a division fs the flow conductor in the well bore, drilling out excess cement605.870, Dec. 29, 1966, Pat. No. 3,498,376. from the flow conductor,perforating the casing at desired 10 cations, and the like, installing aliner in the flow conductor of 521 u.s.c1. ..l66/3l5,l66/ll5, 166/207smaller internal diameter than the imemal diam!" of the 511 1111.01...E2lb 43/00, 1521b 43/10 nducl0r Pmvide imcma' Seal SW13 and W [58]Field of Search 166/1 15, 207, 315,277 W facing P shwlders flow swing apacker in the liner, and then installing an inner production [56]References Cited flow conductor in the well and securing it to thepacker. A setting tool for simultaneously locating a liner and a packerin UNITED STATES PATENTS a flow conductor, expanding the liner intosealing and anchored engagement in the flow conductor and then setting3,162,245 12/1964 Howard et a1. ..l66/207 Vincent 166/207 Wood ..l66/l15the packer in the liner.

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INVENTORE PHILLIP S. S'ZER HARRY E-SCHWEGMAN BY g a" M AT TORNEY METHODSOF COMPLETING A WELL This application is a continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 803,507 filed Dec. 24, 1968, now abandoned, andwhich latter application is a division of application Ser. No. 605,870,filed Dec. 29, 1966, now US. Pat. No. 3,498,376.

This invention relates to a method of completing a well and to welltools usable in completing wells.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method ofcompleting a well by installing a flow conductor, such as a well casing,in the bore of a well, wherein the casing has no internal restrictionsto interfere with the movement of fluids in its longitudinal passage andproviding a restriction in the casing to provide the well casing at adesired location with an internal seal surface of smaller diameter thanthe passage of the well casing and oppositely facing stop shoulders, thestop shoulders being engageable by means of a well tool which isinstallable in the well casing at such restriction.

Another object is to provide a method of completing a well whichincludes the additional step of installing a well tool in the wellcasing which has seal means which engages the seal surfaces and latchmeans engageable with the stop shoulders provided by the restriction tosecure the well tool in the flow conductor.

Another object is to provide a method of completing a well wherein therestriction at the predetermined location is provided by moving alongitudinally corrugated liner into the flow conductor and thenexpanding the liner into anchored and sealing engagement with the wellcasing, the opposite end surfaces of the liner providing the oppositelyfacing stop shoulders and its internal surface providing the sealsurface.

Still another object is to provide a method of completing a well whichincludes the step of simultaneously with the movement of the liner intothe casing also moving a packer and then setting the packer in the linerafter it has been expanded in the well casing.

Another object is to provide a method of completing the well whichincludes the step of mounting the liner on a setting tool to whose lowerend is secured a packer, the setting tool having an expander meansbetween the packer and the liner whereby upward movement of the settingtool while the liner is held against upward movement in the flowconductor will expand the liner into anchored and sealing engagementwith the casing and then set the packer in the expanded liner.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved method of locatingand securing a liner in a predetermined location in a well casing havingsections secured by collars which provide internal annular recesses atknown locations in the well casing, which includes moving a well toolassembly including a collar recess locator and the setting tool carryingan unexpanded liner and a packer through the well casing and locatingthe liner at a predetermined location by means of the recess locator;expanding the liner into anchored and sealing engagement in the wellcasing by operation of the setting tool, and setting the packer in theexpander liner.

A main object of the invention is to provide a new and improved settingtool for positioning a longitudinally corrugated liner in a flowconductor, such as a well casing, which has means for expanding theliner into sealing and anchored engagement with the well casing at adesired location therein.

Another object is to provide a setting tool which has means operative byfluid pressure for holding the liner against upward movement in the flowconductor and an expander movable upwardly relative to the liner, whenit is held against upward movement, for expanding the liner into sealingand anchored engagement with the well casing.

Still another object is to provide a setting tool wherein the means forholding the liner includes anchor means movable into engagement with thewell casing by fluid pressure applied thereto and a hold down meansreleasably secured against upward movement relative to the anchor meansfor holding the liner against upward movement in the well casing whilethe expander is moved upwardly thereinto.

A further object is to provide a setting tool of the type describedwherein the operative fluid pressure may be provided to the setting toolthrough a flow conductor by means of which the setting tool is movableinto the well casing.

A still further object is to provide a setting tool wherein theoperative fluid pressure is provided by a gas generating means of thesetting tool whose actuation is controllable from the surface of thewell.

Another object is to provide a setting tool wherein the setting tool hasmeans for holding the hold down means against upward movement relativeto the anchor means until the expander of the setting tool has beenmoved upwardly a predetermined distance relative to the hold down means.

Another object is to provide a new and improved packer, which isreleasably connectable to the lower end of a liner expanding tool whichhas a bottom stop shoulder engageable with a bottom end surface of anexpanded liner and a latch releasably held in retracted position by thesetting tool which expands when the setting tool is released from thepacker to engage the top end surface of the expanded liner to limit itsdownward movement relative to the liner.

Still another object is to provide a packer having seal means engageablewith the internal surface of the liner and with latch means engageablewith another well tool, such as a latch mandrel connectable to the lowerend of a string of tubing.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a method ofinstalling in a well conductor a liner sleeve having a reduced diameterto provide a smooth sealing surface in the conductor disposed to beengaged by a sealing element positioned in the flow conductor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method ofinstalling in a well flow conductor a liner sleeve member providing asmooth sealing surface in its bore having a diameter smaller than thebore of the flow conductor and providing a pair of opposed stopshoulders on opposite ends of the sealing surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod of locating and securing a liner sleeve in a predeterminedlocation in a well flow conductor to provide a sealing surface ofreduced diameter in the bore of the flow conductor having opposed stopand lock shoulders on opposite ends of the sealing surface, andinserting a packer member into the well flow conductor having a sealingassembly thereon engageable with the sealing surface for sealingtherewith.

Still another object is to provide a method of the character set forthwhich includes holding the packer member in place in sealing engagementwith the liner sleeve.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are vertical sectional views of a setting toolembodying the invention carrying an expanded liner and a packerconnected thereto during the movement of the setting tool through a wellcasing, FIGS. 18, 1C, and 1D being continuations of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and1C, respectively;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are vertical sectional views of the settingtool showing'the liner in an expanded and anchored position in the wellcasing and the packer set in the liner, the elements of the setting toolbeing shown in the positions assumed thereby during the removal of thesetting tool from the well, FIGS. 28, 2C, and 20 being continuations ofFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. IC;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 213;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 2C;

FIG. 7 is a vertical partly sectional view showing a latch mandrel onthe lower end of a production flow conductor extending through thepacker and releasably secured thereto;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line: 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are vertical partly sectional views of amodified form of the setting tool embodying the invention and showing anexpanded liner and packer secured thereto, FIGS. 98, 9C, and 9D beingcontinuations of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, respectively;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a well tool assembly including thesetting tool illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, being loweredthrough a well casing and carrying a liner and packer;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11 ll of FIG. 9B;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a wire line tool assembly, including asetting tool embodying the invention, by means of which the setting tooland the liner and packer carried thereby are movable in the well casing;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a packer tool connectable to a tubingstring and having sealing members thereon in sealing engagement with theliner sleeve;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the packer tool having astop for positioning the sealing assembly in the liner sleeve andholding the same against downward movement through the sleeve;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a packer tool having a stopshoulder thereon engageable with the lower end of the liner sleeve onlyto prevent upward movement of the packer tool through the sleeve;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the lower stop shoulder ofthe packer tool released to permit removal of the packer tool from thesleeve; and,

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing a packer tool having stopshoulders thereon engageable with the opposite ends of the liner sleevefor positively holding the packer tool in place in the liner sleeve.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings, thesetting tool 20 for expanding and setting a liner 21 in a flowconductor, such as a well casing C, and then setting a packer 22 in theliner includes a mandrel 25 having a top section 26 connectable by acoupling 27 to the lower end of a string of pipe P by means of which thesetting tool is movable into the well casing and through which fluidunder pressure may be introduced into the top longitudinal passage 28 ofthe mandrel. The mandrel has a middle port section 29 whose upper end isthreaded, as at 30, in the lower end portion of the top section and abottom section 31 whose reduced top end portion 32 is threaded in thelower end of the middle section. The tubular body 33 of the packer isconnected to the bottom mandrel section by a shear sleeve 34 whose upperend is threaded, as at 35, in the dependent annular extension 36 of thebottom mandrel section and whose lower end is threaded in the enlargedportion 37 of the bore of the packer body. The shear sleeve has aweakened middle section which will fail when a predetermined upward pullis exerted on the setting tool mandrel while the packer body is heldagainst upward movement.

The setting tool also includes a latch sleeve 38 threaded on thedependent extension 36 of the bottom mandrel section and telescoped overthe upper end of the packer body for holding a splitlock ring 40 of thepacker in its inner retracted inoperative position, as will be describedin greater detail below.

A liner expander 44 is threaded on the lower end portion of the middlemandrel section. The expander has an upper annular reduced top endportion 45 over which telescopes the lower end portion of thelongitudinally corrugated liner 21, an outwardly and downwardly inclinedor beveled annular top expander surface 46 on which rest the bottomedges of the inner corrugations 21a of the liner, a middle expandersurface or shoulder 48 inclined at a smaller angle from the verticalthan the top expander shoulder, and a plurality of dependent annularcollet fingers 50 whose lower ends are provided with external bosses 52whose downwardly and outwardly inclined top shoulders provide a bottomexpander surface 54. The diameter of the top expander surface 46 issomewhat less than the internal diameter of the unexpanded liner at itsouter corrugations 21!) so that upon upward movement of the expanderrelative to the liner, first the top expander surface and thensequentially the middle and bottom expander surfaces engage the linerand progressively and sequentially expand the liner into cylindricalform and into anchored position in the casing. The outward force exertedon the liner and the casing by the collet bosses as they move upwardlythrough the liner is determined by the force with which the colletfingers resist inward flexing of their lower ends, and the collet bossesin passing through the liner smooth the internal surface thereof. Theexterior of the liner may be coated with a sealing and grippingsubstance which further tends to anchor the expander liner in the casingand also insures a good fluid tight seal therebetween.

During the expansion of the liner it is held against upward movement inthe casing by a hold down sleeve 60 of the setting tool releasablysecured in the upper position relative to the mandrel illustrated inFIGS. 18 and IC of the drawings by a shear pin 61 which extends throughsuitable aligned apertures in the lower end portion of the sleeve andthe mandrel. The sleeve has an external flange 62 at its lower end whichprovides an annular downwardly facing shoulder 63 which engages the topend or edge surface of the liner.

To facilitate the assembly of the setting tool, the hold down sleeve maybe formed of several sections threaded to one another. As illustrated,the hold down sleeve may include a bottom section 66 whose top endportion is threaded in the bottom end of a middle section 67, and a topsection 68 threaded on the top end of the middle section. The hold downsleeve is telescoped inwardly into a cylinder 70 and the lower end ofthe middle sleeve section has an external flange 71 which is disposed inhe bottom section 72 of the cylinder between the bottom internal flange74 of the bottom cylinder section and an internal annular flange 75 ofthe middle cylinder section 76, threadedly connected to the top end ofthe bottom section. The sleeve flange 71 is provided with externalannular recesses in which are disposed O-rings 78 which seal between theflange and the internal surface of the middle cylinder section andsimilarly the cylinder flange 75 has internal recesses in which O-rings79 are disposed which seal between the middle sleeve and the cylindersections. The bottom flange 74 of the cylinder also has O rings 80disposed in internal recesses of the flange which seal between thebottom sleeve and cylinder sections.

The top sleeve section 68 is disposed in the middle cylinder section 76between its internal flange 75 and the bottom end of the top cylindersection 82 whose reduced lower end portion 83 is threaded in the upperend of the middle cylinder section. The top sleeve section has anexternal flange 84 provided with O-rings 85 which seal between thesleeve and cylinder top sections.

The hold down sleeve and its external flanges together with the cylinderprovide annular chamgers 86, 87, 88 and 89. The pressure from theexterior of the cylinder is communicated to the chambers 87 and 88through the ports 91 and 92, respectively, in the bottom and middlecylinder sections, respectively. Pressure from the exterior of thecylinder in the chamber 87 acting on the upwardly facing area of thesleeve between the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 78 with thebottom cylinder section and the line of sealing engagement of the O-ring79 with the middle sleeve section exerts a force on the sleeve tendingto move it downwardly in the cylinder and such pressure in the chamber88 acting on the downwardly facing area of the sleeve between the lineof sealing engagement of the O-rings 85 with the middle cylinder sectionand the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 79 with the middlesleeve section exerts a force on the sleeve tending to move it upwardly.The pressure from the exterior also acting on the downwardly facingsurfaces of the sleeve between the line of sealing engagement of theO-ring 96 with the mandrel and the line of sealing engagement of theO-ring 80 with the sleeve exerts an upward force on the sleeve.

The areas of the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the sleeveexposed to the pressure exteriorly may be made equal so that the upwardand downward forces exerted on the sleeve by the exterior pressure areequal or preferably so that the areas of the upwardly facing surfaces isgreater than that of the downwardly facing surfaces and an effectivedownward force is exerted by the exterior pressure on the sleeve.

The bottom, middle, and top sleeve sections have internal annularflanges 93, 94 and 95, respectively, in whose internal annular recessesare disposed O-rings 96, 97 and 98, respectively, which seal between themandrel'and the hold down sleeve. The O-rings 96 and 97 are disposedabove and below, respectively, lateral ports of the sleeve which providecommunication between the lower outer chamber 86 and the exterior of thesleeve. When the sleeve is in its initial position illustrated in FIG.l-B the outer chamber 86 is closed since the mandrel between thelocations of the O-rings 96 and 97 does not have any ports.

The O-rings 97 and 98, when the sleeve is in the position il- Iustratedin FIG. 1, are disposed above and below the ports 102 of the mandrelwhich open to its bottom longitudinal passage 103. The mandrel has ports104 which, when the sleeve is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1Bprovide commu nication between the top passage of the mandrel and theouter chamber 89. The mandrel also has bottom ports 105 which, when thesleeve is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1B, are below the G-ring96 of the sleeve. The bottom ports 105 communicate with the bottomlongitudinal passage of the mandrel which is in communication with theexterior of the setting tool at the lower end of the bottom passagethrough aligned ports 106 and 107 in the middle mandrel section and theexpander, respectively.

Fluid pressure introduced into the string of pipe P at the sur' face iscommunicated through the top mandrel passage 28 and its ports 104 to thetop outer chamber 89 and this pressure will exert a downward force onthe hold down sleeve over the upwardly facing areas of the top sleevesection 68 between the line of sealing engagement of the O-rings 85 withthe top cylinder section and the line of sealing engagement of the 0-rings 98 with the mandrel.

The top cylinder section 82 has an internal annular flange 110 in whoseinternal annular recesses are disposed O-rings III which seal betweenthe top cylinder section and the mandrel between the ports 104 of themiddle mandrel section and its top ports 112 which, when the mandrel andthe cylinder are in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, openbelow the bottom enlarged end portion 114 of the top mandrel sectioninto an annular chamber 115 provided by the mandrel and the top cylindersection. The top mandrel section has O-rings 118 disposed in externalannular recesses thereof which seal between the top mandrel and cylindersections.

The top cylinder section with a plurality of outwardly opening recesses120 in which are slidably mounted dogs or buttons 121 whose externalsurfaces are provided with downwardly facing teeth or serrations 122.The dogs are provided with external annular recesses in which aredisposed 0- rings 124 which seal between the anchor body and the dogs.The top cylinder section has ports 125 which communicate with thechamber 115 and the dog recesses 120 so that when the pressure withinthe chamber 115 is increased the force thereof exerted on the innersurfaces of the dogs will move the dogs radially outwardly to engage thewell casing and prevent downward movement of the cylinder therein.

A closure ring 130 is threaded in the upper end of the top cylindersection and has a pair of internal annular recesses in which O-rings 131are disposed to seal between the closure ring and the top mandrelsection. An annular closed chamber 133 is thus formed by the mandrel,the cylinder and its closure ring in which air is trapped. The aircompresses upon any upward movement of the mandrel relative to thecylinder sleeve and thus yields to permit such relative movement betweenthe mandrel and the cylinder.

If desired, a shear pin 135 may be provided which extends through asuitable aperture of the closure ring into an outwardly opening recess136 of the top mandrel section to releasably hold the cylinder in itsupper position on the mandrel illustrated in FIG. IA.

The packer body 33 has an external annular recess I40 defined by top andbottom annular shoulders 141 and 142 which extend perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of the body and by a lower cylindrical surface 143which extends upwardly from bottom shoulder, an expander surface 144which extends upwardly and outwardly from the lower surface, and acylindrical lock surface 145 which extends from the expander surface tothe top shoulder. The shoulders limit movement of the packer bodyrelative to the lock ring 40. The expander surface serves to expand thelock ring upon downward movement of the packer body relative to the lockring if the lock ring is not in fully expanded position, and the locksurface locks the ring in its expanded position against movement to itsretracted position when the packer body is in its lowermost positionrelative to the lock ring wherein the top shoulder 141 is in engagementwith the top surface of the lock ring.

The packer body also has an internal seal surface 147 and a plurality ofinwardly extending latch lugs 148 below the seal surface which coactwith latch means of other tools which are telescopical in the packerbody, as will be explained below, to releasably lock such well tools inthe packer body. The packer body has a seal assembly 150 mounted thereonwhose upward movement is limited by the external annular flange 151 ofthe packer body and whose downward movement is limited by the top endsurface of a retainer ring 152 threaded on the packer body. The retainerring has an external annular flange 154 which provides an upwardlyfacing stop shoulder 155.

In use, the packer is secured to the bottom section 31 of the mandrel bythe shear sleeve 34 as illustrated in FIG. 1C and its lock ring 40 isthen held in retracted position on the lower portion of its latch lockrecess 140 by the latch sleeve 38. The elements of the setting tool andof the packer are then in the positions illustrated in FIGS. IA, 1B, 1C,and 1D. Air under atmospheric pressure is then trapped in the outerchambers 133 and 86 of the setting tool. The buttons or dogs 121 areheld in their retracted position since pressure in the casing is greaterthan that in the passage 28. The hold down sleeve is releasably held inthe lower position illustrated in FIG. 1B by the shear pin 61 and thecylinder is held in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 13 by thepressure external of the device being greater than that on the insidethereof and by the shear pin 135.

The setting tool with the packer mounted thereon is then lowered to alocation in the well casing at which it is desired to locate the packerby means of the string of pipe P and when it is located at suchlocation, the pressure within the top passage 28 of the mandrel isincreased, as by introducing fluid under pressure into the upper end ofthe string of pipe P. This operative fluid pressure communicated throughthe ports 112 to the chamber 115 and thus to the dog recesses 120 of thecylinder causes the dogs 121 to move outwardly and engage the wellcasing. The dog teeth grip the internal surfaces of the casin g toprevent movement of the cylinder in the casing. At this time, theoperative fluid pressure in the chamber 115 exerts a downward force overthe upwardly facing surfaces of the cylinder between the line of sealingengagement of the O-rings 111 with the mandrel and the line of sealingengagement of the O-rings l 18 with the cylinder. The operative fluidpressure from the mandrel top passage 28 is also communicated to thechamber 89 and exerts a downward force on the hold down sleeve 60 and,since the bottom end of the top sleeve section 68 engages the topsurface of the internal flange 75 of the middle cylinder section, italso exerts a downward force on the cylinder which however is balancedby the upward force exerted by the operative fluid pressure in thechamber 89 on the downwardly facing surface of the cylinder between theline of sealing engagement of the O-rings 111 with the mandrel and theline of sealing engagement of the O-rings with the cylinder. As aresult, the force of the operative fluid pressure produces an effectivedownward force on the cylinder.

Simultaneously, the force of the operative fluid pressure in the chamberacting on the downwardly facing surfaces of the mandrel between the lineof sealing engagement of the 0- rings 111 with the mandrel and the lineof sealing engagement of the O-rings 118 with the cylinder exerts aneffective upward force on the mandrel, the other upwardly facingsurfaces of the mandrel, the connector sub, and the pipe P exposed tothe operative fluid pressure having a combined total area equal to oronly slightly greater than the combined total area of the otherdownwardly facing surfaces of the mandrel, the connector sub, and thepipe also exposed to the operative fluid pressure. As a result theoperative fluid pressure tends to move the mandrel and the pipe upwardlyrelative to the cylinder.

It will thus be apparent that no upward or downward movement of thecylinder can then take place and the sleeve and the liner are veryaccurately positioned within the well casing against upward movementwhenever operative fluid pressure is introduced into the top mandrelpassage 28 and the dogs move outwardly into gripping engagement with thewell casmg.

The operative fluid pressure tends to move the mandrel and the pipeupwardly and the pipe may also be pulled upwardly at the surface to movethe mandrel and the packer upwardly relative to the cylinder, the holddown sleeve and the liner. The pins 61 and 135 are caused to shear topermit such upward movement of the mandrel relative to the hold downsleeve and the cylinder when a predetermined upward force is exerted onthe mandrel. As the mandrel moves upwardly, the expander 44progressively, from the bottom toward the top, expands the longitudinalcorrugations of the liner radially outwardly in the manner describedabove.

After the mandrel has been moved an upward distance sufficiently greatthat the expander 44 has moved upwardly through the liner and the linerhas been fully expanded and anchored in the well casing so that it is nolonger necessary for the hold down sleeve to hold the liner againstupward movement in the casing, the mandrel ports 104 move upwardly pastthe O-rings l1 1 and fluid communication between the top longitudinalpassage 28 and the outer chamber 89 is thus terminated. At this time theports 102 have not been moved upwardly of the O-rings 98 of the topsleeve section so that the pressure trapped in the chamber 89 stillexerts a downward force on the hold down sleeve and no fluid flow cantake place from the top longitudinal passage 28 to the bottomlongitudinal passage through the outer chamber 89. As the ports 102 arethereafter moved above the O-rings 98, communication is establishedbetween the outer chamber 89 and the casing through the bottomlongitudinal passage 103 of the mandrel and the ports 106 and 107. Thedownward force with which the hold down sleeve is biased downwardly isthus reduced.

A downward force, however, is still exerted on the hold down sleeve bythe well casing pressure since the area of the upwardly facing surfacesof the sleeve within the chambers 89 and 87 is considerably greater thanthe downwardly facing area of the sleeve within the outer chamber 86which is still at atmospheric pressure which is of considerably smallervalue than the casing pressure. As upward movement of the mandrel iscontinued, the ports 105 move upwardly past the O-ring 96 thus admittingthe casing pressure into the chamber 86 through the lower longitudinalpassage 103 and the mandrel ports 105 and the sleeve ports 101. Thepressure across the hold down sleeve is thus equalized, all surfaces ofthe sleeve now being exposed to the casing pressure.

The reduced upper end portion 45 of the expander now enters into thedownwardly opening recess 160 of the hold down sleeve and its top endsurface 161 engages the downwardly facing annular shoulder 162 of thesheeve so that further upward movement of the mandrel will now causeupward movement of the hold down sleeve and the shoulder 63 of thesleeve is moved out of engagement with the top edge surface of theliner.

After the liner is completely expanded, the expander moves upwardly ofthe liner, and the sleeve has been released for upward movement with themandrel, the ports 102 move above the O-rings 111 and the pressure inthe chamber 115 is released. The dogs are thus freed to move inwardly,and, since their teeth face downwardly, will now not prevent upwardmovement of the cylinder. The cylinder is then moved upwardly with themandrel and the sleeve when the stop shoulder 165 of the sleeve engagesthe bottom end surface 166 of the cylinder. If desired, the pressure inthe passage 28 may be released immediately prior to the movement of theports 102 past the O-ring 111 in order that the casing pressure move thedogs to their rectracted positions.

Thereafter the packer moves upwardly through the now expanded linerwhich provides a smooth internal seal surface until its upward movementis arrested due to the engagement of the stop shoulder 155 of the packerretainer ring 152 with the bottom edge surface 168 of the liner. Afurther upward force exerted by means of the string of pipe P on themandrel and, therefore, on the shear sleeve 34 causes the shear sleeveto fail and as the latch sleeve 38 moves upwardly relative to the packerbody and out of engagement with the lock ring 40, the lock ring, whichis then positioned above the top end shoulder 169 of the liner, expandsoutwardly until it engages the well casing. The packer will now tend toremain in the upper position illustrated in FIG. 2C due to thefrictional engagement of its packing or seal means 150 with the internalsurfaces of the liner which it sealingly engages. Should any downwardforce be exerted on the packer body tending to cause it to movedownwardly, the engagement of the top shoulder 141 of the packer bodywith the top surface of the lock ring and the engagement of the lockring with the top end surface 169 of the liner will limit its downwardmovement so that the packer will remain latched to the liner.

If it is then desired to connect a well tool to the packer, such as astring of tubing T through which well fluids may be produced to thesurface, the lower end of the tubing is provided with a latch mandrel170 whose upper reduced end portion is threaded in a downwardly openingrecess or enlargement, as at 171, ofa connector sub 172 in whose upperend is threaded the reduced lower end portion 173 of the bottom end ofthe string of tubing. A sea] assembly 175 is mounted on the upperportion of the latch mandrel, its downward movement on the latch mandrelbeing limited by the upwardly facing annular shoulder 176 of the latchmandrel and its upward movement being limited by the downwardly facingannular end shoulder or surface 177 of the connector sub 172. The latchmandrel has a pair of opposed inverted J -slots 180 which havedownwardly opening leg portions 181, connector portions 182, and latchportions 183. As the latch mandrel is moved into the packer body, thedownwardly opening leg portions 181 of its .I-slots receive the latchlugs 148 of the packer body. The latch mandrel is then rotated in acounterclockwise manner, FIGS. 8 and 9, to move the latch portions 183of the J-slots in alignment with the lugs, whereupon upward movement ofthe string of tubing will cause the lugs to be received in the latchportions of the J-slots and upward movement of the latch mandrelrelative to the packer body will then be limited by the engagement ofthe latch lugs with the upwardly facing shoulders 184 of the latchmandrel defining the lower ends of the latch portions of the J-slots.

The mandrel has a reduced dependent extension 185 whose lower end may bebeveled, as at 186, to provide a cam surface which facilitates or guidesits downward movement into the packer body.

The tubing may be easily released for removal from the well thereafterby merely lowering the string of tubing to cause the latch lugs to be inthe upper connector portions of the J-slots, rotating the tubing in aclockwise direction to cause the lugs to be placed in alignment with thedownwardly opening leg portions 181 of the Jslots, and then moving thetubing upwardly.

It will now be apparent that the setting tool 20 may be used to expand aliner in a flow conductor such as a well casing and thereafter set apacker in such liner, both the liner and the packer being movable intosuch flow conductor simultaneously by means of the setting tool and thatthe sequential expansion of the liner and the setting of the packer inthe expander liner is accomplished by a simple upward movement impartedto the means by which the setting tool is lowered into the well casingafter the pressure in the pipe at the surface has been increased to movethe dogs 121 of the cylinder outwardly into gripping engagement with thewell casing to hold the cylinder anchored in the casing to accuratelyposition and hold the liner against upward movement in the casing.

It will further be seen that cylinder constitutes an anchor means andthat the cylinder, the mandrel, and the hold down sleeve have cooperablefluid pressure operable means for holding the hold down sleeve againstupward movement, after the cylinder has been anchored to the casing,until the mandrel has moved a predetermined upward distance relative tothe sleeve and the cylinder and the expander has expanded the lowerportion of the liner into anchored engagement with the well casing.

It will further be seen that the upper portions of the liner areexpanded after the hold down sleeve has been released for upwardmovement so that the hold down sleeve does not frictionally engage thetop end of the liner and impede the expan sion of the top portion of theliner.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings, thesetting tool 200 embodying the invention includes a mandrel 201 having atop connector section 203 which may be connected by a suitable coupling204 to the lower end of another well tool, such as a casing collarrecess locator 205, of an assembly of wireline tools. The assembly oftools is movable through a flow conductor, such as the well casing C, bythe usual flexible member or cable 207 which has a plurality of pairs ofelectric conductors 210 and 211 extending therethrough through one pairof which the electric signals from the collar recess locator, which maybe of the well known neutron detector type, may be transmitted to asuitable indicator or recorder device 212 and through another pair ofwhich an electric current may be transmitted to an igniter device 214 ofthe setting tool to cause ignition of a powder charge 215 located in achamber 217 of the mandrel. The igniter and power charge may be of thetype illustrated in the US. Letters Pat. to Baker, No. 2,640,546. Thetop section 203 of the mandrel has a reduced portion 219 threaded in theupper end of a chamber section 220 of the mandrel and is provided withan O-ring 220 for sealing therebetween. The top mandrel section has adownwardly opening bore 221 into which the explosive charge extends andin whose upper reduced end portion 222 is rigidly secured the igniterdevice 214.

The powder charge 215 is supported in its upper position in the chamber217 illustrated in FIG. 9A by a piston 224 disposed in the chambermandrel section 220. The piston has a rod 226 which extends downwardlyfrom the chamber through the longitudinal passage 228 of a mandrelsection 229 whose enlarged upper end portion 230 is threaded in thelower end of the chamber mandrel section. An O-ring 231 disposed in anexternal annular recess of the mandrel section seals between it and thechamber section and an O-ring 232 disposed in an internal recess of themandrel section 230 seals between it and the piston rod 226. The pistonrod extends downwardly into a longitudinal slot 235 of the mandrelsection 229 and is rigidly secured to a tubular extension 237 disposedabout the mandrel by a pin 238 which extends through aligned aperturesin the extension and the piston rod.

The mandrel also includes a tubular section 240 ,whose upper reduced endportion 241 is threaded in a downwardly opening bore of the section 229and a bottom section a whose upper reduced threaded end portion 32a isthreaded in the lower end of the tubular mandrel portion 240. Anexpander 44a is threaded on the bottom end of the tubular mandrelsection and a packer 22a is secured to the bottom man drel section.

The bottom mandrel section 300, the expander 44a, and the packer 22abeing identical to the expander 44, the bottom section 30 and packer 22of the setting tool 20, their elements have been so provided with thesame reference numerals, to which the subscript a" has been added, asthe corresponding elements of the bottom mandrel section 30, theexpander 44 and the packer 22.

A hold down sleeve 245 is releasably secured to the mandrel by a shearpin 246, or, alternatively, it may be supported against downwardmovement on the mandrel by the liner 21a whose inner corrugations engageand rest upon the top expander surface 46a. The mandrel at its upper endportion has longitudinal upwardly opening slots 248 which define aplurality of resilient collet fingers 249 provided adjacent their upperends with external bosses 250 which are received in an internal annularrecess 251 of a cylinder 254. The engagement of the top shoulders 252 ofthe external bosses with the annular downwardly and outwardly inclinedannular shoulder 255 defining the top end of the annular recess limitsdownward movement of the cylinder relative to the hold down sleeve andthe mandrel. The collet fingers also have inner bosses 258 which engagethe mandrel lock surface 259 above the external annular groove 260 ofthe tubular mandrel section 240 and are receivable therein when themandrel is moved upwardly a predetermined distance relative to thesleeve. The top ends of the collect fingers are engageable with thedownwardly facing internal annular shoulder 263 of the cylinder to limitupward movement of the hold down sleeve relative to the cylinder.

The cylinder is provided with a plurality of external recesses 266 inwhich dogs or buttons 267 are movably disposed. The dogs have externalannular recesses in which O-rings 268 are disposed which seal betweenthe dogs and the cylinder. The dogs have downwardly facing teeth orserrations 269. The cylinder has ports 271 which provide communicationbetween the recesses 266 and an annular chamber 272 which is closed atits lower end by the O-rings 274 disposed in internal annular recessesof the cylinder which seal between the cylinder and the mandrel. Theupper end of the chamber 272 is closed by a piston sleeve275 whichextends into the enlarged upper portion of the bore of the cylinder andis provided with O-rings 276 disposed in an external annular recessthereof which seal between the piston sleeve and the cylinder and theO-rings 277 disposed in internal annular recesses thereof which sealbetween the piston sleeve and the mandrel. The piston sleeve is held inthe upper position illustrated in FIG. 913 by a liquid, such as oil,trapped in the closed chamber 272. The area of the piston sleeve betweenthe lines of sealing engagement of its 0- rings 276 and 277 with thecylinder and the mandrel is equal to or less than the combined areas ofthe dogs within the lines of the sealing engagementof their O-rings 268wit the cylinder in order that the hydrostatic pressure in the casingdoes not move the piston sleeve downwardly and thus cause prematureoutward movement of the dogs. It will be apparent that when the pistonsleeve 275 is moved downwardly, the pressure of the liquid trapped inthe closed chamber 272 is applied to the inner surfaces of the dogs 267and causes the dogs to move outwardly to engage the internal surfaces ofa flow conductor, such as a well casing C, to anchor the cylinderagainst .downward movement in the well casing.

The liquid in the chamber is allowed to escape from the chamber to thelongitudinal passage 280 of the mandrel through ports 281 thereof whenthe mandrel is moved a predetermined distance upwardly relative to thecylinder.

In use, the setting tool 200 with its elements in the positionillustrated in FIG. 10 and with the liner 21a and packer 220 securedthereto, is connected by the coupling collar 204 to the lower end of acollar recess detector 205 which, in turn, is connected by a usualconnector head 284 to the cable 207. The collar log of the well casingis of course available to the operator who, as he lowers the string oftools through the well casing, by means of the collar recess detectorand the indicator device 212 which produces a signal each time thelocator moves past a collar recess can determine very precisely andaccurately the location ofthe liner 21a in the casing. When the liner islocated at a desired location in the well casing, an electric current istransmitted through a pair of electric conductors to the igniter device214 which ignites the powder charge215. The powder when it ignitesgenerates a large volume of gas. The expanding gas thus generated in thechamber tends to move the piston 224 downwardly relative to the mandreland the mandrel upwardly.

As the piston moves downwardly, it moves its rod extension 237downwardly which, in turn, moves the piston sleeve 275 downwardlyrelative to the cylinder which is now held against downward movementrelative to the hold down sleeve 245 by the collet finger bosses 250.The hold down sleeve, in turn, is held against downward movementrelative to the mandrel by the liner 21a and the shear pin 246. As thepiston sleeve 275 moves downwardly, the liquid in the chamber 272 isplaced under pressure thereby and the force of this liquid pressuremoves the digs outwardly into gripping engagement with the well casing.

Once the cylinder is anchored in the well casing, the force of theexpanding gas moves the mandrel upwardly relative to the cylinder, thepin 246 shearing when a predetermined upward force is exerted on themandrel, while the hold down sleeve is held against upward movement dueto the engagement of the top shoulders of the external bosses 250 of itscollet fingers 249 with the internal shoulder 255 of the cylinder. Asthe mandrel moves upwardly relative to the liner, the liner is expandedinto sealing and anchoring engagement with the well casing. After theexpander 44a has moved through the liner so that the liner is expandedand anchored in the well casing against upward movement, and prior tothe engagement of the top shoulder 1610 of the expander with theshoulder 255 of the hold down sleeve, the mandrel recess 260 moves intoalignment with the internal collet finger bosses 258 so that the holddown sleeve is freed for upward movement relative to the cylinder, thecollet fingers being moved resiliently inwardly due to the cammingaction between the outwardly and downwardly inclined cam shoulders 252of the external bosses 250 with the shoulder 255 defining the top end ofthe latch recess 25]. As the upward movement of the mandrel continues,and prior to the engagement of the top end surfaces of the colletfingers with the downwardly facing shoulder 263 of the cylinder, theport 281 of the mandrel moves upwardly of the O-rings 274 so that theliquid pressure within the chamber 272 is released and the pressureacross the buttons or dogs is equalized and they are not longer biasedoutwardly with great force. As a result, since the dog teeth facedownwardly, the cylinder moves upwardly with the mandrel and the pistonsleeve when the top ends of the collet fingers engage the shoulder 263of the cylinder. The upward movement of the mandrel may now be continuedby pulling upwardly on the cable 207 at the surface. As the upwardmovement of the setting tool is continued, the packer 22a is movedupwardly through the expanded liner until its stop shoulder 155a engagesthe bottom edge of the liner whereupon an upward force exerted by meansof the cable on the mandrel causes the shear sleeve 34a to fail and thepacker means 150a is left positioned in the liner with its seal orpacking means 150a sealing between the packer body and the liner. Thelatch sleeve 38a, of course, moves upwardly and out of engagement withthe lock ring 40a so that the lock ring 40a expands and thereafterlimits downward movement of the packer relative to the liner. A stringof tubing may then be releasably secured to the packer by means ofalatch mandrel, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 8.

If desired, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the operative fluid pressure forthe setting tool 20 may also be provided by any suitable gas generatordevice or assembly 300 connected to the top end of its top mandrelsection 26 by means of the connector sub 27. The gas generator assembly300 includes a tubular member 302 having an internal chamber 303 closedat its top end and whose lower tubular reduced end portion 305 isthreaded in the upper end portion of the connector sub 27 so that thepressure of the gas generated by the ignition of the powder charge 306in the chamber will be transmitted into the top passage 28 of themandrel 25. An insulated pair of electric conductors 211 of a cable 207extend into the chamber through a suitable sealed aperture to operate asuitable means 309 for igniting the powder charge. When the setting tool20 is provided with such gas generating assembly it may be lowered andmoved through a well casing by means of the flexible cable 207 and beconnected in a string of wireline tools which may also include a casingcollar recess locator such as the locator 205 in the same manner as thesetting tool 200. The setting tool is operated by providing an electriccurrent to the igniting device 309 through a pair of insulatedconductors 211 of the cable 207 when by use of the collar recess locator205 and an indicator device such as the device 212 it is determined thatthe liner is at the desired location in the well casing. When the powdercharge 306 is ignited the generated gas provides the operative fluidpressure to the top longitudinal passage 28 and the expander will thenbe moved upwardly into the liner carried by the tool 20, the dogs of thecylinder 70 will be moved to their outer expanded positions locking thecylinder to the well casing, the mandrel 25 will be moved upwardly tocause the expander to expand the liner and thereafter the hold downsleeve will be released for upward movement as described above inconnection with the operation of the setting tool 20, as when it islowered into the well casing by means of a pipe P and the operativefluid pressure is transmitted through the pipe P into the toplongitudinal passage. When the ports 102 of the mandrel move above theO-rings 111, the mandrel is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 2Brelative to the cylinder, the operative fluid pressure in the chamberand the passage and therefore the chamber 313 is released to the bottomlongitudinal passage 103 of the mandrel and the pressure across the dogs121 is equalized. Since the dogs have downwardly facing teeth, they willnot resist upward movement of the mandrel through the well casing andthe setting tool may be moved upwardly in the well casing to set thepacker in the expanded liner and removed from the well.

It will be apparent that, if desired, the setting tool 200 may beoperated by fluid pressure delivered from the surface to the chamber 217above the piston 225 by means of a string of pipe instead of by gasproduced by a gas generating means carried off the tool. In this case,the chamber section 220 is connected directly to the lower end of thestring of pipe so that fluid pressure from the pipe is communicated tothe chamber 217 above the piston.

It is further believed readily apparent that the liner 421 may be set inthe casing C by means of the setting tool and expander 20 in the mannerpreviously described, without having the packer attached to the lowerend of the setting tool for anchoring in sealing position in theexpander liner when the setting tool is disconnected from the packer.

Instead, as shown in FIGS. 13 through 17, it is believed readilyapparent that the liner sleeve 421 may be disposed in expanded positionin the casing C and the setting tool and expander removed from withinthe casing leaving the liner in place. Thereafter, a string of welltubing T having a packer or sea] assembly 400 connected therein bythreads, as shown in FIG. 13, may be lowered into the well casing andthe packing assembly 400 disposed within the bore of the liner sleevewith the sealing elements or rings 402 mounted on the mandrel 401 of thepacking assembly positioned in sealing engagement with the bore wall ofthe liner sleeve. The tubing may move slightly longitudinally within thebore of the sleeve, if desired, to accommodate changes in length of thetubing string, while the smooth interior wall surface 422 of the linersleeve, being smaller than the bore wall of the casing C will receivethe sealing elements 402 in sealing engagement after the sea] assemblyhas been moved downwardly in the well casing to position the sealingelements thereon within the liner sleeve. This liner provides animproved sealing surface or reduced diameter within the bore of thecasing which may be engaged by the sealing elements 402 of the packerassembly 400 without damaging the sealing elements during their loweringthrough the casing string.

If desired, as shown in FIG. 14, a packer 440 having a mandrel 441 withsealing elements or rings 442 thereon identical to those of the formfirst described may be lowered into the well. The mandrel 441 isprovided at its upper end with an external annular flange 443 which isof a diameter greater than the bore 422 through the liner sleeve, sothat the downwardly facing shoulder 444 on the flange will engage theupwardly facing stop shoulder 424 at the upper end of the liner sleeve421. Thus, the tubing may be supported on the shoulder 424 of the linersleeve with the packing rings 442 positively positioned in registry inthe bore of the liner for sealing engagement with the bore wall 422 ofthe liner sleeve.

It is also believed readily apparent that, if desired, as shown in F108.15 and 16, a packer assembly 500 having a mandrel 501 provided withsealing rings 502 on its exterior for engaging and sealing against thebore wall of the liner sleeve 521 may be lowered into the casing C intosealing engagement with the liner sleeve. The mandrel 501 is providedwith a normally expanded split locking ring 531 which is slidable on anexternal annular recess or reduced portion 532 is formed on the exteriorof the mandrel below an external annular flange 537 on the mandrel belowthe packing rings, which limits upward movement of the locking ring onthe mandrel. The reduced portion or annular recess 532 accommodates thesplit locking ring 531 to permit the same to be cammed inwardly to passthrough the bore of the liner sleeve 521 to a position below the sleeve.Since the split ring is of the type that is normally biased outwardly toexpanded position, being of a normal diameter larger than the bore ofthe liner sleeve 521, when the locking ring moves below the liner sleevethe ring will expand and be disposed to engage the downwardly facingstop shoulder or lock shoulder 523 at the lower end of the liner sleeve521 to be moved downwardly upon an enlarged external annular lockingsurface 533 formed on the mandrel below the reduced section or recess532 on the mandrel.

A supporting ring sleeve 534 is secured to the mandrel by shear pins 535and held in place thereon with its upper end engaging the downwardlyfacing shoulder 536 at the lower end of the expander surface 533,whereby the upper end of the supporting ring 534 engages the lower endof the locking split locking ring 531, as shown in FIG. 15, to supportthe same in expanded locking position. The upper beveled edge 531a ofthe split locking ring will thus engage the downwardly facing lockshoulder 523 of the liner sleeve, to prevent upward movement ofthepacker assembly in the liner.

It is readily apparent that, when desired, the packer may be retrievedfrom the well casing C by an upward pull, shearing the pin 535, as shownin FIG. 16, to permit the sleeve 534 to move downwardly and the splitring 531 to likewise be moved downwardly below the external annularexpander surface 533, until the lower end of the sleeve 534 engages andis supported on the upwardly facing shoulder 506 at the upper end of thecoupling sub 505 on the lower end of the packer mandrel 501, as shown inH0. 16.

The cam surface 53lb at the upper edge of the split ring will now engagethe lower shoulder 523 of the liner sleeve as the packer assembly islifted upwardly and cam the locking ring inwardly to permit it to passthrough the liner sleeve and the packer assembly to be removed from thewell casing.

A further slight variation of the packer assembly is shown in H0. 17,wherein the packer assembly 600 is provided with a mandrel 601substantially identical in all respects in its lower portion to themandrel 501 of the form just described and shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.However, an external annular stop shoulder or flange 643 is formed atthe upper end of the man drel 601, and this flange or stop shoulder isadapted to engage the upwardly facing stop shoulder 624 at the upper endof the liner sleeve 62] in the same manner as the flange or stopshoulder 443 of the form of FIG. 14. The expansible split locking ring631 will engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 623 of the linersleeve and so positively lock the packer assembly against upwardmovement in the base of the liner while the flange 643 prevents downwardmovement. Thus, the packer assembly is locked in place in the base ofthe liner sleeve with the seal rings 602 in sealing engagement with thesmooth inner sealing surface 622 of the bore wall of the liner sleeve.

This packer assembly may be removed from the casing in the same manneras the form of FIGS. 15 and 16 by an upward pull shearing the pins 635to permit the supporting sleeve 634 and locking ring 631 to movedownwardly on the mandrel below the expander surface 633 and the lockingring to be cammed inwardly below the expander surface 633 by the cammingengagement of the beveled upper edges 63lb on the locking ring with thelower end 623 of the liner sleeve, whereby the locking ring may passupwardly through the mandrel.

It will be seen, therefore, that the liner sleeve may be utilized toprovide a sealing surface for a packing assembly supported on a tubingstring to effect a more satisfactory seal between the tubing and thecasing. The packing assembly may have an external diameter smaller thanthe bore of the casing and yet be of a diameter which will tightlyengage and seal against the smooth bore wall of the liner sleeve. Also,it will be readily apparent that the method of installing a liner sleevein the wall casing to provide a smooth sealing surface in the bore ofthe casing having a diameter smaller than the bore of the casing andproviding a pair of opposed stop shoulders on opposite ends of thesealing surface permits use of the liner to position packing assembliesin the well casing in effective sealing engagement therewith afterhaving been moved through the length of the casing to position them inthe liner sleeve. Also, there has been set forth a method of locating aliner sleeve in a well casing, then locating a packer assembly on a welltubing string in the liner sleeve in sealing engagement therewith; and,further, holding the packer assembly against downward movement oragainst upward movement, or against both downward and upward movements,with respect to the liner sleeve, and wherein the packing assembly isremovable from sealing engagement the liner sleeve when desired.

it will now be seen that several forms of a new and improved settingtool for expanding a liner into sealing and anchored engagement in awell casing have been illustrated and described and that the expandedliner provides a seal surface of smaller diameter than the well casingand top and bottom stop surfaces engageable by a stop means of a packerfor securing the packer against displacement from the liner after it isinstalled by means of the setting tool in the expanded liner.

it will further be seen that if several liners and packers are to be setin the casing at vertically spaced locations therein, the lowermostliner and packer are installed first, then the next upper packer andliner, and so on. As a result, the seal means of the packers are notworn due to engagement with the restrictors in the casing above thelocation at which they are to be mounted.

it will further be seen that the well casing at the time of itsinstallation in a well bore does not have to have any landing nipples ofrestricted internal diameter connected therein in and to which otherwell tools such as packers may thereafter be installed or releasablysecured, and that, since the well casing has no such restrictions,various tools and fluids may be moved through the casing without passingrestrictions in the casing which would impede their movement or causeundue wear to the components of such tools.

It will further be seen that due to factors beyond the control of theoperator, such as the elongation of the well casing due to tension as along length thereof is installed in the well, changes in temperature andvariations in the lengths of the sections of the well casing or thedegree to which their threaded end portions extend into coupling collarswhich connect adjacent casing sections, the locations of the landingnipples cannot be precisely predetermined at the time of the making upof the well casing so that, when the casing is installed in the wellbore, the landing nipples will be at desired locations in the well. Byuse of suitable surface equipment, such as a collar recess detector anda cable length measuring device, the liners may be located veryprecisely at desired locations in the well casing.

It will further be seen that the setting tools embodying the inventionmay be movable downwardly into a casing by means of a string of pipethrough which an operative fluid pressure may be introduced to operatethe setting tools or, if desired,

the setting tools may be operable by fluid pressure generated by gasgenerating means ofsetting tool.

it will further be seen that a new and improved method of completing awell has been described and illustrated which includes the steps ofinstalling in the well bore a flow conductor, such as a well casing,performing various operations on the well by means of the unrestrictedpassage of the flow conductor, and then providing a restriction in theflow conductor of smaller internal diameter than the internal diameterof the flow conductor to provide an internal seal surface and oppositelyfacing stop shoulders in order that a well tool may be secured in sealedrelation in the flow conductor at such restriction.

It will further be seen that the restriction may be provided by locatinga liner in the flow conductor at a desired position, expanding the linerinto sealing and anchored position in the flow conductor, and thereaftersecuring a packer in such expanded liner.

It will further be seen that the method may include simultaneouslylocating the liner and a packer in a flow conductor, expanding the linerinto sealing and anchored engagement in the flow conductor, and thenmoving the packer into the liner, and that preferably the expansion ofthe liner and the setting of the packer is accomplished by moving anexpander upwardly through the liner and then moving the packer upwardlyinto he liner so that the setting tool and expander may thereafter beeasily removed from the well.

It will also be seen that a new and improved packer has been illustratedand described which is connectable to a setting tool having means forexpanding a liner in a well casing and which is movable by the settingtool into the liner after it has been expanded, and that the packer hasa body provided with a stop shoulder engageable with the bottom endsurface of the expanded liner and a latch releasably held in retractedposition which expands when the setting tool is released from the ackerto engage the top end surface of the expanded liner to limit itsdownward movement relative to the packer.

It will further be seen that the packer body is provided with externalseal means for sealing between the body and the liner and with aninternal seal surface engageable by seal means of another well toolpositionable in the packer and with latch means engageable with suchanother well tool for releasably connecting such tool to the packerbody.

It will also be apparent that, if the tools and 200 are secured into thewell casing on a pipe, a collar recess locator is mounted on the pipeabove the setting tool and will be operated to determine the location ofa liner carried by the setting tool in the well casing.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of completing a well comprising: installing a flow conductorof substantially unrestrictedinternal passage in a well bore; performingoperations on the well by movement of substances and well tools throughthe flow conductor; locating and fixing a landing section liner sleeveat a predetermined location in the flow conductor which providesinternal seal surface of smaller diameter than the passage of the flowconductor and oppositely facing stop shoulders; and setting a well toolin said landing section liner sleeve having means engageable with theopposed stop shoulders to limit longitudinal movement of said well toolin the landing section liner sleeve and having seal means engageablewith the seal surface for sealing therebetween.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said well tool is a packer, andinstalling a second well tool in the packer.

3. A method of completing a well comprising: installing in a well a wellcasing formed of sections connected by coupling collars which providespaced internal collar recesses; moving into said well casing a welltool assembly including a setting tool carrying a liner and a packer anda collar recess detector for locating the liner at a predeterminedposition in the well casing by means of signals transmitted from thedetector to an indicator at the surface of the well to which thedetector transmits a signal each time it passes a collar recess,expanding the liner outwardly progressively upwardly by moving thesetting tool upwardly relative to the liner, and then installing thewell packer in the expanded liner by continued upward movement of thesetting tool.

4. The method of claim 3, and releasing the setting tool from the packerwhen the packer has been installed in the liner.

5. A method of completing a well installation in a well having a wellflow conductor having no internal restrictions therein in the bore ofsaid well, said method including: performing operations on the well bymeans of said unrestricted passage of said flow conductor; moving apacker, a packer setting tool, an expansible packer housing sleeve incontracted condition and an expander for said housing sleevesimultaneously through the well flow conductor to a desired locationtherein; holding the top end portion of said unexpanded expansiblepacker housing sleeve against movement in the flow conductor whilemoving said expander through said housing sleeve to expand said packerhousing sleeve into expanded gripping and sealing engagement with theflow conductor; releasing said expander from said housing sleeve aftercompletion of the expansion of said housing sleeve; securing said packerin locked sealing engagement with said housing sleeve; releasing saidsetting tool from said packer; and removing said setting tool and saidexpander from the well through the flow conductor.

6. The method of claim 5 and the additional step of securing a tubingstring to said packer in said housing sleeve.

7. A method of completing a well comprising: installing a flow conductorof substantially unrestricted internal passage in a well bore;performing well completion and testing operations on the well bymovement of substances and well tools inserted through the conductorinto the well, and withdrawing said tools; locating a landing sectionliner sleeve in the flow conductor at a predetermined location therein,expanding said liner sleeve into gripping sealing engagement with thebore wall of the flow conductor to provide internal opposed stopshoulders and an internal sea] surface of smaller diameter than thepassage of the flow conductor; and setting a well tool in said landingsection liner sleeve having means engageable with the stop shoulders ofsaid liner to limit longitudinal movement of said well tool in the linersleeve and having seal means thereon engageable with the seal surface inthe bore of said liner sleeve for sealing therebetween.

8. A method of treating a well having therein a flow conductor having asubstantially unrestricted internal passage, comprising: performing welltesting and completion operations on the well by movement of substancesand well tools through the flow conductor in place in the well;supporting a packer in the well flow conductor adjacent a desiredlocation; supporting an unexpanded expansible locating and lockingsleeve in the well conductor above the packer; expanding the locatingand locking sleeve at said position in said well conductor to grip thewall of the flow conductor at such location to provide a sea] surface ofreduced bore in the flow conductor having opposed lock and stopshoulders at its opposite ends; moving the packer upwardly in the flowconductor into locking and sealing engagement with said locating andlocking sleeve; releasing the support from the locating and lockingsleeve; releasing the support from the packer and removing the supportsfrom the well bore leaving the packer in anchored sealing position inthe locating and locking sleeve.

9. In the method set forth in claim 8 the additional step of lowering atubing string into the well flow conductor and connecting the lower endof said tubing string to the packer anchored in place in the locatingand locking sleeve to provide a flow course from the packer to thesurface.

10. A method of treating a well having a well casing therein formed ofsections connected by coupling collars and having a substantiallyuniform unrestricted bore therethrough, said method comprising: moving awell tool assembly including a setting tool carrying an expansiblepacker housing sleeve and a packer into the well casing from thesurface; locating a posi tion in the well casing at which it is desiredto anchor the packer housing sleeve and packer in sealing engagement inthe well casing; expanding the packer housing sleeve at such location bymoving the assembly upwardly; and installing the well packer in theexpanded housing sleeve by continued upward movement of the well toolassembly to lock the packer in anchored sealing engagement with thehousing sleeve in the casing.

ll. The method of claim and the additional steps of releasing thesetting tool from the packer housing sleeve and from the packer when thepacker has been installed in the housing sleeve; and removing thesetting tool from the well casing.

12. A method of completing a well installation in a well having a wellcasing therein with a substantially uniform unrestricted bore extendingtherethrough, said method comprising: moving into the well casing asetting tool having a packer mounted thereon at its lower end in anunexpanded non-seal ing, non-gripping condition, so as to be supportedby said setting tool in such condition in the well casing; supporting anunexpanded expansible packer landing housing sleeve on the setting toolabove an expander carried by the setting tool below the packer housingsleeve; positioning the setting tool in the well at a desired depththerein at which it is desired to support the packer landing housingsleeve in sealing engagement with the casing; moving the setting tool tomove the expander member through the packer landing housing sleeve toexpand said landing housing sleeve into gripping engagement with theinner surface of the casing; disconnecting the setting tool from thepacker landing housing sleeve after the landing housing sleeve has beenexpanded into gripping engagement with the inner surface of the casing;moving the setting tool upwardly in the well casing to move the packerinto position to engage the landing housing sleeve in locked sealingengagement therewith against movement in either direction; disconnectingthe setting tool from the packer and removing the setting tool from thewell leaving the packer in anchored sealing engagement in the packerlanding housing sleeve.

l3. A method of the character set forth in claim 12 including: theadditional steps of sensing the position in the well at which the packerlanding housing sleeve is to be set by means of locating the couplingrecesses between adjacent joints of casing in the well; and expandingthe packer landing housing sleeve into gripping engagement with the wellcasing at the position so located.

14. The method of claim 12 including the additional step of lowering atubing string into the well casing; connecting the lower end of thetubing in sealing anchored engagement to the packer anchored in thepacker landing housing sleeve in the casing for conducting fluidsflowing from the well below the packer through the packer into thetubing string and to the surface.

15. A method of completing a well having a flow conductor ofsubstantially unrestricted internal passage therein comprising: movinginto the flow conductor a setting tool having an unexpanded expansiblepacker landing housing sleeve and an expander carried by the settingtool engageable with the packer housing sleeve; positioning the settingtool in the flow conductor at a depth therein at which it is desired todispose the packer landing housing sleeve in gripping sealing engagementwith the casing; moving the setting tool to move the expander member toexpand said landing housing sleeve into gripping sealing engagement withthe inner wall surface of the flow conductor to provide a smoothinternal sealing surface wall of reduced diameter in the flow conductorhaving op posed stop shoulders at its ends; disconnecting the settingtool from the packer landing housing sleeve after the same has beenexpanded into gripping sealing engagement with the inner wall surface ofthe flow conductor; removing the setting tool from within the flowconductor; then inserting a tubular conductor having a packing assemblythereon into the flow conductor; moving the packing assemibly downwardlyin the flow conductor to position the same in sealing engagement withthe inner surface wall of the packer landing housing sleeve; andsupporting the packer assembly in place in such sleeve to provide a sealbetween the flow conductor and the tubular conductor at the packerhousing landing sleeve.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional step ofholding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing housingsleeve against longitudinal movement with respect thereto by engagingthe packer assembly with at least one of the stop shoulders of saidsleeve.

17. A method as set forth in claim l5 including: the additional step ofholding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing housingsleeve against downward longitudinal movement with respect thereto byengagement of the packer assembly with the stop shoulder on the upperend of said sleeve.

18. A method as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional step ofholding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing housingsleeve against upward longitudinal movement with respect thereto byengaging the packer assembly with the stop shoulder at the lower end ofsaid sleeve.

19. A method as set forth in claim 1.5 including: the additional step ofholding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing housingsleeve against longitudinal movement in either direction with respectthereto by engaging the packer assembly with the opposed stop shouldersof said sleeve.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18 including: the additional step ofreleasing the packer assembly from engagement with the stop shoulder atthe lower end of the landing housing sleeve for removal of the packerassembly from the flow conductor.

21. A method as set forth in claim 19 including: the additional step ofreleasing the packer assembly from holding engagement with the stopshoulder at the lower end of the landing housing sleeve for removal ofthe packer assembly from the flow conductor.

22. A method of completing a well having a flow conductor with anunrestricted substantially uniform bore disposed therein, whichincludes: moving into the flow conductor a contracted expansible packerlanding housing sleeve to a point in the flow conductor at which it is:desired to locate the same; expanding the contracted expansible packerlanding housing sleeve into gripping sealing engagement with the borewall of the flow conductor at such location in the flow conductor toprovide a smooth internal sealing surface wall of diameter smaller thanthe bore of the flow conductor and having stop shoulders at its oppositeends; inserting a tubing string having a sealing packer assembly thereoninto the first flow conductor; moving the tubing string downwardly inthe first flow conductor to position the packer assembly in sealingengagement with the internal reduced sealing surface wall of the packerlanding housing sleeve; and holding the packer assembly in sealingengagement with the internal sealing surface wall of said packer housingsleeve for sealing between the tubing string and the first fiowconductor at such point.

23. In the method set forth in claim 22, the further step of holding thepacker assembly in place in said packer landing housing sleeve againstlongitudinal movement with respect to said sleeve by engagement of thepacker assembly with at least one of the shoulders of the sleeve.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packerassembly in place in the landing housing sleeve is directed topreventing downward movement of the packer as sembly with respect to thesleeve.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packerassembly in place in the landing housing sleeve is directed topreventing upward movement of the packer assembly with respect to thesleeve.

ductor; actuating the setting tool to expand the packer landing housingsleeve into gripping sealing engagement with the bore wall of the flowconductor at the selected point; removing the setting tool from the flowconductor; installing a packer assembly connected with a second flowconductor in the well into sealing engagement with the bore wall of thepacker landing housing sleeve in place therein and sealing between thesecond conductor and the packer landing housing sleeve by means of saidpacker assembly.

1. A method of completing a well comprising: installing a flow conductorof substantially unrestricted internal passage in a well bore;performing operations on the well by movement of substances and welltools through the flow conductor; locating and fixing a landing sectionliner sleeve at a predetermined location in the flow conductor whichprovides internal seal surface of smaller diameter than the passage ofthe flow conductor and oppositely facing stop shoulders; and setting awell tool in said landing section liner sleeve having means engageablewith the opposed stop shoulders to limit longitudinal movement of saidwell tool in the landing section liner sleeve and having seal meansengageable with the seal surface for sealing therebetween.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein said well tool is a packer, and installing a secondwell tool in the packer.
 3. A method of completing a well comprising:installing in a well a well casing formed of sections connected bycoupling collars which provide spaced internal collar recesses; movinginto said well casing a well tool assembly including a setting toolcarrying a liner and a packer and a collar recess detector for locatingthe liner at a predetermined position in the well casing by means ofsignals transmitted from the detector to an indicator at the surface ofthe well to which the detector transmits a signal each time it passes acollar recess, expanding the liner outwardly progressively upwardly bymoving the setting tool upwardly relative to the liner, and theninstalling the well packer in the expanded liner by continued upwardmovement of the setting tool.
 4. The method of claim 3, and releasingthe setting tool from the packer when the packer has been installed inthe liner.
 5. A method of completing a well installation in a wellhaving a well flow conductor having no internal restrictions therein inthe bore of said well, said method including: performing operations onthe well by means of said unrestricted passage of said flow conductor;moving a packer, a packer setting tool, an expansible packer housingsleeve in contracted condition and an expander for said housing sleevesimultaneously through the well flow conductor to a desired locationtherein; holding the top end portion of said unexpanded expansiblepacker housing sleeve against movement in the flow conductor whilemoving said expander through said housing sleeve to expand said packerhousing sleeve into expanded gripping and sealing engagement with theflow conductor; releasing said expander from said housing sleeve aftercompletion of the expansion of said housing sleeve; securing said packerin locked sealing engagement with said housing sleeve; releasing saidsetting tool from said packer; and removing said setting tool and saidexpander from the well through the flow conductor.
 6. The method ofclaim 5 and the additional step of securing a tubing string to saidpacker in said housing sleeve.
 7. A method of completing a wellcomprising: installing a flow conductor of substantially unrestrictedinternal passage in a well bore; performing well completion and testingoperations on the well by movement of substances and well tools insertedthrough the conductor into the well, and withDrawing said tools;locating a landing section liner sleeve in the flow conductor at apredetermined location therein, expanding said liner sleeve intogripping sealing engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor toprovide internal opposed stop shoulders and an internal seal surface ofsmaller diameter than the passage of the flow conductor; and setting awell tool in said landing section liner sleeve having means engageablewith the stop shoulders of said liner to limit longitudinal movement ofsaid well tool in the liner sleeve and having seal means thereonengageable with the seal surface in the bore of said liner sleeve forsealing therebetween.
 8. A method of treating a well having therein aflow conductor having a substantially unrestricted internal passage,comprising: performing well testing and completion operations on thewell by movement of substances and well tools through the flow conductorin place in the well; supporting a packer in the well flow conductoradjacent a desired location; supporting an unexpanded expansiblelocating and locking sleeve in the well conductor above the packer;expanding the locating and locking sleeve at said position in said wellconductor to grip the wall of the flow conductor at such location toprovide a seal surface of reduced bore in the flow conductor havingopposed lock and stop shoulders at its opposite ends; moving the packerupwardly in the flow conductor into locking and sealing engagement withsaid locating and locking sleeve; releasing the support from thelocating and locking sleeve; releasing the support from the packer andremoving the supports from the well bore leaving the packer in anchoredsealing position in the locating and locking sleeve.
 9. In the methodset forth in claim 8 the additional step of lowering a tubing stringinto the well flow conductor and connecting the lower end of said tubingstring to the packer anchored in place in the locating and lockingsleeve to provide a flow course from the packer to the surface.
 10. Amethod of treating a well having a well casing therein formed ofsections connected by coupling collars and having a substantiallyuniform unrestricted bore therethrough, said method comprising: moving awell tool assembly including a setting tool carrying an expansiblepacker housing sleeve and a packer into the well casing from thesurface; locating a position in the well casing at which it is desiredto anchor the packer housing sleeve and packer in sealing engagement inthe well casing; expanding the packer housing sleeve at such location bymoving the assembly upwardly; and installing the well packer in theexpanded housing sleeve by continued upward movement of the well toolassembly to lock the packer in anchored sealing engagement with thehousing sleeve in the casing.
 11. The method of claim 10 and theadditional steps of releasing the setting tool from the packer housingsleeve and from the packer when the packer has been installed in thehousing sleeve; and removing the setting tool from the well casing. 12.A method of completing a well installation in a well having a wellcasing therein with a substantially uniform unrestricted bore extendingtherethrough, said method comprising: moving into the well casing asetting tool having a packer mounted thereon at its lower end in anunexpanded non-sealing, non-gripping condition, so as to be supported bysaid setting tool in such condition in the well casing; supporting anunexpanded expansible packer landing housing sleeve on the setting toolabove an expander carried by the setting tool below the packer housingsleeve; positioning the setting tool in the well at a desired depththerein at which it is desired to support the packer landing housingsleeve in sealing engagement with the casing; moving the setting tool tomove the expander member through the packer landing housing sleeve toexpand said landing housing sleeve into gripping engagement with theinner surface of the casing; disconnecting tHe setting tool from thepacker landing housing sleeve after the landing housing sleeve has beenexpanded into gripping engagement with the inner surface of the casing;moving the setting tool upwardly in the well casing to move the packerinto position to engage the landing housing sleeve in locked sealingengagement therewith against movement in either direction; disconnectingthe setting tool from the packer and removing the setting tool from thewell leaving the packer in anchored sealing engagement in the packerlanding housing sleeve.
 13. A method of the character set forth in claim12 including: the additional steps of sensing the position in the wellat which the packer landing housing sleeve is to be set by means oflocating the coupling recesses between adjacent joints of casing in thewell; and expanding the packer landing housing sleeve into grippingengagement with the well casing at the position so located.
 14. Themethod of claim 12 including the additional step of lowering a tubingstring into the well casing; connecting the lower end of the tubing insealing anchored engagement to the packer anchored in the packer landinghousing sleeve in the casing for conducting fluids flowing from the wellbelow the packer through the packer into the tubing string and to thesurface.
 15. A method of completing a well having a flow conductor ofsubstantially unrestricted internal passage therein comprising: movinginto the flow conductor a setting tool having an unexpanded expansiblepacker landing housing sleeve and an expander carried by the settingtool engageable with the packer housing sleeve; positioning the settingtool in the flow conductor at a depth therein at which it is desired todispose the packer landing housing sleeve in gripping sealing engagementwith the casing; moving the setting tool to move the expander member toexpand said landing housing sleeve into gripping sealing engagement withthe inner wall surface of the flow conductor to provide a smoothinternal sealing surface wall of reduced diameter in the flow conductorhaving opposed stop shoulders at its ends; disconnecting the settingtool from the packer landing housing sleeve after the same has beenexpanded into gripping sealing engagement with the inner wall surface ofthe flow conductor; removing the setting tool from within the flowconductor; then inserting a tubular conductor having a packing assemblythereon into the flow conductor; moving the packing assembly downwardlyin the flow conductor to position the same in sealing engagement withthe inner surface wall of the packer landing housing sleeve; andsupporting the packer assembly in place in such sleeve to provide a sealbetween the flow conductor and the tubular conductor at the packerhousing landing sleeve.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including:the additional step of holding the packer assembly in place in thepacker landing housing sleeve against longitudinal movement with respectthereto by engaging the packer assembly with at least one of the stopshoulders of said sleeve.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 15including: the additional step of holding the packer assembly in placein the packer landing housing sleeve against downward longitudinalmovement with respect thereto by engagement of the packer assembly withthe stop shoulder on the upper end of said sleeve.
 18. A method as setforth in claim 15 including: the additional step of holding the packerassembly in place in the packer landing housing sleeve against upwardlongitudinal movement with respect thereto by engaging the packerassembly with the stop shoulder at the lower end of said sleeve.
 19. Amethod as set forth in claim 15 including: the additional step ofholding the packer assembly in place in the packer landing housingsleeve against longitudinal movement in either direction with respectthereto by engaging the packer assembly with the opposed stop shouldersof said sleeve.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 18 Including: theadditional step of releasing the packer assembly from engagement withthe stop shoulder at the lower end of the landing housing sleeve forremoval of the packer assembly from the flow conductor.
 21. A method asset forth in claim 19 including: the additional step of releasing thepacker assembly from holding engagement with the stop shoulder at thelower end of the landing housing sleeve for removal of the packerassembly from the flow conductor.
 22. A method of completing a wellhaving a flow conductor with an unrestricted substantially uniform boredisposed therein, which includes: moving into the flow conductor acontracted expansible packer landing housing sleeve to a point in theflow conductor at which it is desired to locate the same; expanding thecontracted expansible packer landing housing sleeve into grippingsealing engagement with the bore wall of the flow conductor at suchlocation in the flow conductor to provide a smooth internal sealingsurface wall of diameter smaller than the bore of the flow conductor andhaving stop shoulders at its opposite ends; inserting a tubing stringhaving a sealing packer assembly thereon into the first flow conductor;moving the tubing string downwardly in the first flow conductor toposition the packer assembly in sealing engagement with the internalreduced sealing surface wall of the packer landing housing sleeve; andholding the packer assembly in sealing engagement with the internalsealing surface wall of said packer housing sleeve for sealing betweenthe tubing string and the first flow conductor at such point.
 23. In themethod set forth in claim 22, the further step of holding the packerassembly in place in said packer landing housing sleeve againstlongitudinal movement with respect to said sleeve by engagement of thepacker assembly with at least one of the shoulders of the sleeve. 24.The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer assemblyin place in the landing housing sleeve is directed to preventingdownward movement of the packer assembly with respect to the sleeve. 25.The method of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer assemblyin place in the landing housing sleeve is directed to preventing upwardmovement of the packer assembly with respect to the sleeve.
 26. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the step of holding the packer assembly inplace in the landing housing sleeve is directed toward positivelyholding the packer assembly against movement in either directionlongitudinally with respect to the sleeve.
 27. A method of treating awell having therein a flow conductor having a substantially unrestrictedinternal passage, including: inserting a packer landing housing sleeveinto the flow conductor on a setting tool lowerable from the surface ofthe well; moving the sleeve to a desired point in the flow conductor;actuating the setting tool to expand the packer landing housing sleeveinto gripping sealing engagement with the bore wall of the flowconductor at the selected point; removing the setting tool from the flowconductor; installing a packer assembly connected with a second flowconductor in the well into sealing engagement with the bore wall of thepacker landing housing sleeve in place therein and sealing between thesecond conductor and the packer landing housing sleeve by means of saidpacker assembly.